tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23318814463895188532024-03-13T19:39:29.911-04:00Hopkins UndergroundCovering the faculty, students, and organizations that make up the Johns Hopkins University.
You can send us a confidential tip at jhuunderground@gmail.comHopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-71094862247141408192011-10-30T20:48:00.000-04:002011-10-30T20:48:05.964-04:00#OccupJHU?Well maybe not. [Though goodness knows we would have a lot to protest! Tuition rises? Class sizes? The list we're sure goes on and on.]<br />
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However, we hear of an interesting event Tuesday evening that will discuss the #occupy movement that has swept the United States and the world. It features some interesting panelists from the political science department and others.<br />
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None of the organizers of this event are affiliated or connected to Hopkins Underground.<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Occupy and the University"</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tuesday, November 1 5:30 - 7 pm<br />
Arellano Theater, Levering Hall — JHU Homewood campus<br />
For more information: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140522762714720" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/event.php?eid=<wbr></wbr>140522762714720</a><br />
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A Forum on the #Occupy Movement, sponsored by the Human Rights Working Group, featuring:<br />
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Aaron Martel<br />
Department of Geography & Environmental Engineering and participant in the Baltimore encampment<br />
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Professor Christopher Nealon<br />
Department of English<br />
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Professor Lester Spence<br />
Department of Political Science<br />
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Lawrence Grandpre<br />
Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (<a href="http://lbsbaltimore.org/" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">lbsbaltimore.org</a>)<br />
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Chris Westcott and Emilie Connolly<br />
Department of English; Department of Political Science </div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vl8RriXxZ0/Tq3wHUcTINI/AAAAAAAAAEk/af6jSkNPBoE/s1600/OccupyPoster4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--vl8RriXxZ0/Tq3wHUcTINI/AAAAAAAAAEk/af6jSkNPBoE/s320/OccupyPoster4.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</div>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-39223068114351154392011-03-07T18:00:00.000-05:002011-03-07T18:00:39.127-05:00Lichtenstein to be Young Trustee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3SA_JCRDgU4/TXVh0t_2vuI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/gdKJb_i27Qo/s1600/36802_1449206275056_1380180257_31244293_1565492_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3SA_JCRDgU4/TXVh0t_2vuI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/gdKJb_i27Qo/s320/36802_1449206275056_1380180257_31244293_1565492_n.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>Sam Lichtenstein, international relations major, is to be the Young Trustee for the class of 2011, Hopkins Underground has learned.<br />
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The senior from New York will be one of four Young Trustees on the Johns Hopkins Board of Trustees and serve a four-year term. Only one graduating student is selected each year. Sources say Lichtenstein was one of four finalists considered for the position.<br />
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Lichtenstein, among other things, is an editor at <i>JHU Politik</i>, the undergraduate political newsletter, co-chair of the Seniors for the Hopkins Fund, and a board member of the Blue Key Society (campus tours) and Admissions Representatives (admission interviews). <br />
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Abhiram Bhashyam '10, Christopher Louie '09, Michelle Brown '08, and Sarah David '07 whose term ends in this year are the other Young Trustees.Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-78516740498285452492011-03-03T17:14:00.001-05:002011-03-03T17:15:12.374-05:00Hopkins Shows No Ties With LibyaAfter some research by Hopkins Underground, no ties between the Libyan government, Qadhafi family and Johns Hopkins University has been found. This comes amidst allegations that universities in the United States were involved in training "future leaders" of the Libyan government. <br />
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Cables released by Wikileaks in January show Libya's desire to send members of elite to foreign universities in the United States and the United Kingdom for leadership and management training.<br />
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"Two hundred and fifty additional Libyan 'future leaders' would also be trained in Libya. Likewise, the NEDB is working with universities in the United States (Michigan State and elsewhere), the UK, and France to manage exchange programs for 90 young Libyan diplomats (30 Libyan diplomats are currently being trained in each country)." Source: <a href="http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/09/09TRIPOLI764.html">Wikileaks</a><u>.</u> The NEDB is Libya's National Economic Development Board.<br />
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One of those UK universities is the London School of Economics. The director of the LSE announced his resignation Thursday amid a scandal involving the school and the Libyan government's efforts to send 400 "future leaders" of Libya to the school. The "future leaders" were to be trained in leadership and management skills at LSE. At the same time, LSE accepted £300,000 from Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi, the son of the embattled Libyan leader Colonel al-Qadhafi. On Tuesday, the school diverted the money to a scholarship fund for Northern African students.<br />
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Upon reading that an American university may be connected with the Qadhafi family and the regime, Hopkins Underground looked into any possible ties between Johns Hopkins and Libya.<br />
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As of our writing this post, no such link has been found.<br />
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Hopkins Underground searched Saif's charitable foundation, <a href="http://www.gicdf.org/">Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation</a>, the Carey School of Business, and Johns Hopkins as a whole. No obvious ties appeared.<br />
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However, the chances of a link are still very possible. Hopkins is notorious for not publishing a comprehensive list of donors and other financial support it receives. In the past, Hopkins has be <a href="http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2010/02/25/NewsFeatures/President.Daniels.Outlines.Future.Plans.For.Hopkins-3880610.shtml">hesitant</a> to divest its <a href="http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2009/02/26/NewsFeatures/Despite.Stands.Efforts.University.Has.Not.Divested.From.Sudan-3651568.shtml">endowment from Sudan</a>. The may well be information in the University's records that indicate some link between Libya and Hopkins.<br />
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We will keep digging and ask University officials if such a connection exists. Fortunately as of now, Hopkins and Libya remain unconcerned with each other. <br />
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If anyone in the Hopkins community knows anything on this matter, you can send us a confidential tip via email at <a href="mailto:jhuunderground@gmail.com">jhuunderground @ gmail.com</a>. Anonymity guaranteed.Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-25188910206226557842011-02-27T00:08:00.003-05:002011-02-27T19:11:48.610-05:00Hopkins Sophomore Struck by Car is in Critical ConditionAn 83-year-old female driver struck a Hopkins sophomore Saturday at 12 p.m., leaving him in critical condition. Hopkins Underground has learned that the student is Nathan Krasnopoler, a computer science major from Baltimore. <br />
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According to reports from the Baltimore Sun and the ABC News Baltimore affiliate, Krasnopoler was riding his bike along in a bike lane on West University Parkway and West 39th Street. He was struck when the driver attempted to turn right. The car's momentum caused the car to roll on top of him.<br />
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Krasnopoler is at Johns Hopkins Hospital with burns on his face but no internal bleeding. Chances of recovery are good, according to posts by friends on his Facebook page which is also filled with well wishes and encouragement.<br />
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An eyewitness at the scene after the incident tells Hopkins Underground that seven police cars, one Hopkins security officer, and two fire trucks arrived at the scene. <br />
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Like the rest of the Hopkins undergraduate community, our hearts and our best wishes for a speedy recovery are with Nathan.<br />
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<b>UPDATE 2/27/2011 7:10 p.m.</b><br />
The University released the following statement to faculty, students, and staff about Nathan Krasnopoler's condition and offered counseling services to those who need it. Krasnopoler remains in critical condition.<br />
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Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,<br />
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We write to inform you of a traffic accident involving one of our students.<br />
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On Saturday morning, Nathan Krasnopoler, a sophomore in the Whiting School of Engineering, was riding a bicycle in the area of West University Parkway and 39th Street when he was struck by a car and seriously injured. He was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he remains in critical condition.<br />
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Nathan’s parents and other family members are with him at the hospital and we have let them know that the Johns Hopkins University stands ready to provide them with any assistance that they made need.<br />
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Likewise, the university is prepared to offer support to those who know Nathan and anyone else who wishes to talk to someone about this incident. Our counseling center, peer counselors and the staff in the Office of the Dean of Student Life are available. If you would like to talk with someone, please call the Counseling Center at 410-516-8278. After hours, the counselor on call can be reached through Security at 410-516-7777. Information on peer counseling at A Place to Talk is at http://www.jhu.edu/aptt/. You can call the Dean’s Office at 410-516-8208 and someone will be happy to assist you.<br />
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President Ron Daniels and Provost Lloyd Minor join us in asking that everyone keep Nathan and his family and friends in their thoughts at this difficult time.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
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Nicholas P. Jones<br />
Benjamin T. Rome Dean, Whiting School of Engineering<br />
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Sarah B. Steinberg<br />
Interim Vice Provost for Student AffairsHopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-86697376754189210762011-02-12T22:16:00.017-05:002011-02-12T22:53:15.364-05:00Has Admissions Officer's Twitter Use Gone Too Far?<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrIfSYqzddA/TVdOFQZRXDI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Xm5kp6wEabY/s1600/2528980838_3a960e6aa9_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GrIfSYqzddA/TVdOFQZRXDI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Xm5kp6wEabY/s400/2528980838_3a960e6aa9_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3pzXydA_9sg/SlhHgKN_68I/AAAAAAAAAFg/HmzjvmGLbnA/s320/Drinking-Bird-Simpsons-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-GB">Undergraduate admissions officer Daniel Creasy loves to use Twitter. Since his first post in on Oct. 22, 2008, Creasy has posted 1,312 times. Most of the time it relates to his job as an admissions officer and the application process. Occassionally, he delights his 351 followers with updates about his <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/19900357618442240">dog</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/9792447555051520">television</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/14491563111481344">sports</a>, or his <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/13190598299230208">lunch</a>. He also uses the microblogging service to communicate with his group of students who serve on the <a href="http://www.hopkins-interactive.com/">Student Admissions Advisory Board</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Creasy’s use of Twitter was even recognized by The Washington Post where the Post’s college admissions blogger <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/campus-overload/2010/12/hey_2010_thanks_for_the_memori.html">listed </a>Creasy as one of her favorite Twitter users. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Most his updates are harmless, if not a bit vain from time to time. Like his Twitter feed, Creasy uses his Hopkins Insider blog to update applicants about the process and answer some frequently asked questions. Often he will share pictures of his dog and niece Lilly. Here’s <a href="http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2009/12/28/year-ending-rd-deadline-approaching/">one from last year</a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">However, Creasy’s habit of writing on Twitter what he reads in applications is a bit troubling and unprofessional. They mostly focus on the unique applications – unique in a bad way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">As recently as Jan. 24, Creasy wrote that he had read application typed in all capitol letters and used seventeen exclamation points. In the same update, Creasy <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/29563739434909698">joked</a> with a University of Virginia admissions officer that he likes reading applications in size 14 to 18 font. The UVa staffer <a href="http://twitter.com/UVaDeanJ/status/29553653090095105">asked</a> earlier, “Is there any admission officer out there who like essays written in 14-18 font? I didn’t think so.” </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BB3YkB2E_Q/TVdHK2-FhmI/AAAAAAAAADs/neI9-fZWOqY/s1600/HANDWRITE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1qxorh6WKY/TVdHKJJseII/AAAAAAAAADg/mR7g_vCXryk/s1600/caps.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1qxorh6WKY/TVdHKJJseII/AAAAAAAAADg/mR7g_vCXryk/s400/caps.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">For those who <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/25514341398740992">handwrite</a> applications, beware. Officer Creasy will <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/25232092606504960">let strangers know</a> of your poor penmanship. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BB3YkB2E_Q/TVdHK2-FhmI/AAAAAAAAADs/neI9-fZWOqY/s1600/HANDWRITE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BB3YkB2E_Q/TVdHK2-FhmI/AAAAAAAAADs/neI9-fZWOqY/s400/HANDWRITE.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Thinking about being a doctor? I hope you’re not doing it to <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/22375782185697280">help people</a>! Write about all the money you’ll get or maybe defraud Medicare. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTpnFqIpuQc/TVdHKQySNpI/AAAAAAAAADk/XtL3YuWtnRg/s1600/doctor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTpnFqIpuQc/TVdHKQySNpI/AAAAAAAAADk/XtL3YuWtnRg/s400/doctor.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">If you are an applicant trying to scheme and trick the university, beware! All fraudsters will be <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/14332300388990977">outed</a>! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cyTmV8znNFU/TVdHKpRRQtI/AAAAAAAAADo/kxrMBmnmoQ0/s1600/fraud.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cyTmV8znNFU/TVdHKpRRQtI/AAAAAAAAADo/kxrMBmnmoQ0/s400/fraud.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">He charmingly refers to engineers as <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/12112552863465472">“Lego Maniacs.”</a> The label, Creasy wrote, is <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/12294573044797440">also used</a> by colleague Sarah Godwin. It helps them get through their long days, he says. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ3Ad6PqZdc/TVdHLehjbVI/AAAAAAAAAD0/ELlYAhlD-MQ/s1600/lego.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ3Ad6PqZdc/TVdHLehjbVI/AAAAAAAAAD0/ELlYAhlD-MQ/s400/lego.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59X8v33vh84/TVdHMM1YIFI/AAAAAAAAAD4/CoTyxslmSTQ/s1600/lego+sarah.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59X8v33vh84/TVdHMM1YIFI/AAAAAAAAAD4/CoTyxslmSTQ/s400/lego+sarah.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Because Creasy shares so much in his blog and Twitter posts, some applicants seem to <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/25944348898107392">tailor</a> their essays just for him. [Soze is the name of his dog.]</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdIVqKV65UQ/TVdHM-AFGdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/SF_gEDTZrf4/s1600/tailor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdIVqKV65UQ/TVdHM-AFGdI/AAAAAAAAAEA/SF_gEDTZrf4/s400/tailor.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">To his credit, the person to whom he is referring does sound like <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/10357341824221186">an idiot</a> for bringing up religion. However, to call a possible applicant an idiot in public is a bit questionable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzOyoPdfdAQ/TVdHLH76IjI/AAAAAAAAADw/h9lLz2UYu1Q/s1600/IDIOT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzOyoPdfdAQ/TVdHLH76IjI/AAAAAAAAADw/h9lLz2UYu1Q/s400/IDIOT.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We could go on for a very long time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Creasy has shared <a href="http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2010/10/essay-strategies-that-work/%20">essay writing tips</a> on his blog before, but he never lampooned applicants or their essays the way he does on Twitter. The admissions office also put up some successful essays for applicants so they can figure out what sort of essays are <a href="http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays.html">well received</a>. There are, however, no examples of essays from students who were not admitted. We are not privy to the admissions office's decision making, but we suspect they do not post faulty essays because it is not only uncouth but also hurtful to these young impressionable applicants. Applicants put a lot of work into their applications but also sometimes open up their emotions and life stories.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">It is something that deserves some careful reflection. How professional is it for a representative of this university to broadcast to the world the level of competence of Hopkins applicants? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Sadly, Creasy is not alone. An admissions officer at UVa is guilty of the same behavior. His most recent Twitter update “I really don’t like it when people call, toss me a few pieces of info, and then ask me to pick a student’s senior courses.” </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3HIUqqSI3Qk/TVdHNRstfLI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Olda3UjruxA/s1600/uva-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3HIUqqSI3Qk/TVdHNRstfLI/AAAAAAAAAEI/Olda3UjruxA/s400/uva-1.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In Creasy’s Twitter bio, he mentions nothing about writing in his personal capacity. He uses Twitter as a member of the Hopkins staff and advertises his Twitter on <a href="http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2010/12/ed2015/">his blog</a>. The Twitter account represents the University as much as his blog on the Hopkins website.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We think if any professor began posting on the internet flawed essays or student shortcomings, there would be some backlash from the student body. Unfortunately, the applicants are not in a position to stand up to Daniel Creasy. He, arguably, has a considerable input on a high school senior’s admission chances. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">We could not consume all of Creasy’s Twitter feed, but if any readers find more Twitter gems, do let us know. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">It would not hurt to show some discretion. Or better yet, follow the <a href="http://twitter.com/AdmissionDaniel/status/359200169394176">advice you give</a>, @AdmissionDaniel! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiqmkTK_ORE/TVdHJ1d3uxI/AAAAAAAAADc/GKFh1eNIElA/s1600/advice.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiqmkTK_ORE/TVdHJ1d3uxI/AAAAAAAAADc/GKFh1eNIElA/s400/advice.png" width="400" /></a></div>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-67504782898293551052010-10-27T22:34:00.007-04:002010-10-27T22:55:31.683-04:00Fact-checking Mike Bloomberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TMjfBV1M6HI/AAAAAAAAADI/WBIh4llNdTY/s1600/3004719390_128368ceba_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TMjfBV1M6HI/AAAAAAAAADI/WBIh4llNdTY/s400/3004719390_128368ceba_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Contrary to what Mike Bloomberg '64 may think, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Homewood House, above, is the architectural inspiration for the Homewood campus.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The University produced <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytkeTQaHQ1Y">a video</a> to commemorate the renovation of Gilman Hall. It was shown at the rededication Saturday and has been posted on YouTube. In it, President Ron Daniels, Dean Kathy Newman, other faculty, students, and alumni talk about the renovated building and the importance of the humanities at Hopkins.<br />
<br />
Mike Bloomberg '64, the Mayor of New York City, makes a special appearance at the 3 minutes 58 seconds mark. He says: <br />
<blockquote>Gilman is the history of Hopkins. Its architecture set the standard for the rest of the campus and the fact that you had to go through it to get basically from one place to another really made it the focal point for the university.</blockquote>Not entirely true, Mr. Mayor.<br />
<br />
Gilman was not the architectural inspiration for the Homewood campus. Here is the real story based on research done by Hopkins Underground.<br />
<br />
When Johns Hopkins University was first founded, it was located near <a href="http://bit.ly/cQghyn">Howard and West Monument Streets</a> in Romanesque buildings. Daniel Coit Gilman expressed a desire to move the campus to a more rural location and adopt more traditional architecture.<br />
<br />
In 1902, William Keyser (as in Keyser Quad), a University trustee, donated the 120 acre Carroll family estate which includes <a href="http://www.museums.jhu.edu/homewood.php">Homewood House</a>. The estate is what we know today as the Homewood campus.<br />
<br />
Two years later, President Ira Remsen, Gilman's successor, held a design competition for a new main building and campus. At least two architects submitted proposals. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Russell_Pope">John Russell Pope</a>, who designed the Baltimore Museum of Art and Jefferson Memorial decades later, proposed a classical design and campus layout. The University Trustees did not go for his.<br />
<br />
Instead, they picked the design from <a href="http://krieger.jhu.edu/gilman/archives/mmedia/slides/2-09.html">Parker, Thomas, & Rice</a>, an architecture firm with offices in Baltimore and Boston. Douglas H. Thomas a Baltimore native graduated from Hopkins with a degree in engineering.<br />
<br />
They used Georgian Revival architecture and design, seeking to emulate the features of Homewood House which was built in 1801. They believed Homewood House to be "the shining architectural light already occupying the ground." Today, Homewood House is known as Homewood Museum.<br />
<br />
Gilman Hall is a reinterpretation and enlargement of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It sought to connect the University with the American Colonial period and other Universities with Georgian architecture. <br />
<br />
So while one of Hopkins's most famous alumni and a former chairman of the board has served his alma mater well, he is incorrect in saying Gilman is the architectural basis for the campus. It is that home to the north east of Gilman.Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-48136667452106394702010-10-23T22:39:00.010-04:002010-10-24T16:02:51.185-04:00Details of Saturday's Gilman Rededication<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ytkeTQaHQ1Y?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ytkeTQaHQ1Y?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
A source has provided some details of the Gilman Hall rededication on Saturday night.<br />
<ul><li>Over 400 guests dined on beet salad spiced with pecans, pears, and Fourme D'Ambert; sun-dried tomato and olive-crusted sea bass on a bed of butternut squash & dried fig risotto and wilted spinach; apple Charolotte timbale and Calvados Ice Cream; brownies and rockie road squares. </li>
<li>Dean <a href="http://krieger.jhu.edu/about/leadership/newman.html">Kathy Newman</a> officially rededicated Gilman Hall as the faculty of the humanities departments stood.</li>
<li>Fireworks were launched off the bell tower after Newman rededicated the building.</li>
<li>As <a href="http://trustees.jhu.edu/members.php">Pam Flaherty</a> quoted Daniel Gilman, an actor playing Gilman joined Flaherty in her recitation and took to the stage. "Gilman" was holding a lamp as he made his way to the stage. </li>
<li>Flaherty and Newman bantered with "Gilman" for a couple minutes. </li>
<li>The University gave guests a piece of marble from the old Gilman with a plaque on it commemorating the rededication. </li>
<li>Past University officials were in attendance: <a href="http://president.gwu.edu/">Steve Knapp</a>, former Provost and now President of the George Washington University; <a href="http://president.williams.edu/">Adam Falk</a>, former Dean of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences and now President of Williams College; and <a href="http://www.salk.edu/about/brody.html">William Brody</a>, former President of the University and now President of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TMOsJeq8RoI/AAAAAAAAADE/iLLB5fRzwTw/s400/x2_3215b2c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption">Photo: <a href="http://bit.ly/bQrLu3">@JHU_Brian</a></td><td class="tr-caption"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TMOsJeq8RoI/AAAAAAAAADE/iLLB5fRzwTw/s1600/x2_3215b2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Daniel Gilman addresses the crowd <br />
at the rededication of his eponymous building.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-17544812998332747002010-10-21T20:12:00.000-04:002010-10-21T20:12:15.416-04:00Rededicating Gilman<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TMDS3nZmudI/AAAAAAAAAC8/waQeTugNA8I/s640/180277260-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="425" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Photo: <a href="http://twitter.com/JohnsHopkins/status/27967559264">@JohnsHopkins</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TMDS3nZmudI/AAAAAAAAAC8/waQeTugNA8I/s1600/180277260-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>A tent set up on Gilman Quad for the rededication of Gilman Hall on Saturday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We have learned some information about the rededication of Gilman Hall which will take place Saturday evening starting at 4:30 p.m.<br />
<ul><li>Over 400 guests will attend, including members of the board of trustees, deans and vice-presidents from across the University, big donors, and all the faculty of the humanities departments. </li>
<li>There will be dinner and a show! <a href="http://english.jhu.edu/bios/eric-sundquist/index.html">Eric Sundquist</a> PhD '78, Professor in the Humanities, will deliver the keynote lecture titled "We Dreamed a Dream: Ralph Ellison, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama." </li>
<li>Other speakers at dinner include President Ron Daniels, Dean Kathy Newman of the School of Arts and Sciences, and Pamela Flaherty, chair of the board of trustees. </li>
<li>Before dinner, guests will have the opportunity to attend three themed cocktail parties/lectures. A professor will offer a lecture and a cocktail that reflects the theme of the lecture. For example, <a href="http://history.jhu.edu/Faculty_Bio/knight.html">Franklin Knight</a> of the history department will give a lecture on Latin America. There will be a rum tasting to go along with it. </li>
<li>Six faculty members will lead their own seminars. No cocktails unfortunately in these. </li>
</ul>The rededication is similar to the University's "community celebration" of Gilman Hall which was held on Aug. 30. There were also seminars lead by professors and food. Though, the expense of the community celebration could hardly be equal to the one the University has planned for Saturday. The liquor will be flowing and the food much better than cookies and cake, making us wonder why did the students, who actually use the building daily, not get such an event?<br />
<ul></ul>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-27807611369644840472010-10-17T23:02:00.003-04:002010-10-17T23:07:34.736-04:00London School of Economics to Students: Don't Carry Samurai WeaponsThe London School of Economics told students not to carry weapons for personal protection, according to a photo posted on Facebook. Normally, this would not be news. However, the notice which was posted at a LSE residence hall told students not to carry "Samurai weapons/daggers/swords for your personal protection." A tipster notified us of the photo on a Facebook group for LSE students. <br />
<br />
Did LSE think of John Pontolillo, a Hopkins student who<a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2009-09-16/news/0909150076_1_samurai-sword-samurai-weapon-pontolillo"> killed an intruder</a> with a Samurai sword at his off-campus home last year? As Hopkins students, we can only wonder...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TLu4UyK0rhI/AAAAAAAAACw/bStt_xqGZrg/s1600/53959_441802207797_515337797_5560480_6808859_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TLu4UyK0rhI/AAAAAAAAACw/bStt_xqGZrg/s400/53959_441802207797_515337797_5560480_6808859_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-31887121718573152012010-10-05T15:48:00.004-04:002010-10-06T00:07:48.396-04:00Gilman Quad; 3:01 p.m.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="329" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TKuApmzU1WI/AAAAAAAAAB0/QFLRIkSczcY/s640/GilmanFlamingos.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="530" /></td></tr>
<tr align="right"><td class="tr-caption">Photo: Hopkins Underground</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TKuApmzU1WI/AAAAAAAAAB0/QFLRIkSczcY/s1600/GilmanFlamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Happy Flamingo Day! </div><div style="text-align: center;">--------------------------------------------<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Have a funny or interesting photo of something at Hopkins you would like to share? <a href="mailto:jhuunderground@gmail.com">E-mail</a> us and we will post it. We can offer credit or leave it anonymous. </div></div>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-81123259347751910142010-09-24T19:41:00.006-04:002010-09-25T20:13:28.927-04:00Who We Are and Who We Are Not<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJ039gXVHZI/AAAAAAAAABw/XhwRz5V-yVQ/s320/monkey_typewriter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We aren't chimps but some readers might think we are.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJ039gXVHZI/AAAAAAAAABw/XhwRz5V-yVQ/s1600/monkey_typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Some readers and commenters have tried to figure out who Hopkins Underground could be. Several claims have been made and we are here to respond.<br />
<br />
We are not former writers for the News-Letter who lost an editorial election. We have never been an editor at the N-L, been a candidate in an election, or seen the N-L's proofing process. What some call "inside knowledge" of the N-L is no more than honest and thoughtful reporting, communicating with sources and researching information.<br />
<br />
We do not have a bone to pick with the paper. We write and report without malice or cruel intentions. We started this blog in September because the academic year begins at this time. Hopkins Underground is not connected to another publication,print or online.<br />
<br />
Our consistent coverage of the reaction to Greg Sgammato's op-ed piece is purely coincidental. We have been online for only two weeks. On Sept. 16, we wrote about the shooting at the Hopkins Hospital, an important event at the University that warranted some thoughts. It was not until we discovered Sgammato's op-ed later that day did we decide to write again. We stuck with this story because of the widespread reaction, on campus and nationally. <br />
<br />
So, who are we? We are writers through and through. That does not make us Writing Seminars majors though. This is not our first year at Hopkins. Apart from that, we direct you to our <a href="http://hopkinsunderground.blogspot.com/2010/09/welcome.html">welcome post</a> in which we explain why we write anonymously.<br />
<br />
We hope that readers continue to come to Hopkins Underground, as we are working on stories that are unrelated to the N-L and should be of interest to the student body. We are not ignorant to the point where we think we will win over everyone. <br />
<br />
To those who stick around, see you soon.<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE 9/25/2010 7:55 p.m.: </b><br />
And a few of our promises to you:<br />
<ul><li>We will not remove, retract, or un-publish posts that are deemed offensive or critical. No matter how much backlash a post may bring, we will always keep the information online. If there is a mistake, we will make a correction but keep the post up.</li>
<li>We will not remove comments that are critical of us or our work. We will not close or prevent comments on a post.</li>
<li>We will not peddle gossip or misinformation. Do understand, however, that we are human and will make mistakes from time to time despite our best efforts. Any publication that promises otherwise is lying. </li>
</ul>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-55714028241613204682010-09-23T15:49:00.003-04:002010-09-23T15:51:18.303-04:00In Latest Apology, N-L Backs Away from Satire ReasoningHaving classified Greg Sgammato's opinion piece as satire less than a week ago, The News-Letter has seemingly ignored their first explanation in favor of a full and unreserved apology printed Thursday.<br />
<br />
"Publishing these articles was wrong," wrote the N-L. "Without condition, The News-Letter issues its humblest apology."<br />
<br />
This is a far cry from what the editorial board published online a couple days after the articles first appeared. While the N-L was willing to apologize for offending people, they did not apologize for its content and satirical intent. There was no effort to defend themselves in the latest version.<br />
<br />
"Though we apologize for the harm the article did, we will not apologize for the intent of the article."<br />
<br />
They argued then that Sgammato's piece was intended as satire and aimed to highlight societal problems. Thursday's explanation does not mention anything about satire, humor, or social criticism. It leaves readers to wonder if the original explanation of satire was sincere. <br />
<br />
The N-L also promised readers that it is undergoing an internal assessment of its procedure in the hope that such mistakes can be prevented.<br />
<br />
Oddly, the News-Letter did not write a news article covering the reaction, both supportive or critical, to the articles. When Jayson Blair was caught fabricating stories, sources, and information as a reporter for the New York Times, The Times published several objective news articles about the fallout from Blair's gross journalistic fraud.<br />
<br />
Sgammato and Avitia's actions were not in the same nature as Blair's. The N-L will never be in the same league as the Times. Nonetheless, it is troubling to see the N-L not covering an important event on campus. Many students, faculty, and staff read and reacted, some negatively and some positively, to the articles. Reputable national blogs like <a href="http://jezebel.com/">Jezebel</a> published three posts online. The posts garnered over 50,000 views each and hundred of comments from around the country. This reaction was hardly limited to the Homewood campus. It is troubling to see the N-L selectively cover topics and ignoring significant events. Will the N-L ever report back on the findings of its internal review and the changes it has made? How can concerned readers know that appropriate changes have been made?<br />
<br />
They did however give an entire page to letters to the editor, removing its usual editorials. Something noteworthy we have not seen done as readers of the N-L. Publishing such harsh criticism is not always easy, especially for college students who do not have much exposure to it.<br />
<br />
The two official explanations after the jump.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a> From the Sept. 23, 2010 issue:<br />
<blockquote>In last week's edition of The News-Letter, we published two offensive and insensitive articles. We cannot undo the damage that these articles caused, nor can we excuse our decision to publish them. In light of these egregious errors, The News-Letter retracts the sex column entitled, "Banging under the influence: The ups and downs" and the opinion article entitled, "Local bison bear all at Phi Kappa Psi's annual Lingerave." Publishing these articles was wrong. On this occasion, we failed to meet the standards that our readership and community have come to expect of us. We would like to assure our readers that The News-Letter is currently undergoing an extensive internal review with the intention of identifying and rectifying weak areas of our editorial and production processes. <br />
<br />
Without condition, The News-Letter issues its humblest apology.</blockquote>Less than a week ago:<br />
<blockquote>Last week, in the September 16 edition of The News-Letter, a satirical article was published in the opinions section. The article used cruel and aggressive language to describe women. It was deliberately written as a satirical piece so as to demonstrate a phenomenon of superficiality that exists at Hopkins. Unfortunately, the rhetorical tool employed caused the article to be extremely hurtful to both women and men. Taken literally, the article is at best a ruthless example of superficiality. Taken as a satire, we had hoped the article would be accepted for what it is, a criticism of a depthless, flawed and real culture of thought that persists in the minds of many students. For many, the article achieved no such purpose. It served only as a tool to fan the flames of insecurity. It is on these grounds that The News-Letter issues its sincere apology. <br />
<br />
Though we apologize for the harm the article did, we will not apologize for the intent of the article. No person should be subject to insult and harassment because of his appearance. In this vein, it is shocking that students still stigmatize one another on artificial grounds. One would have to look very hard to find a person at Hopkins who has not heard critical and vicious comments about a fellow student's body type. Many people dismiss these statements as jokes of minor consequence; still others embrace these views themselves. All the while, those who are on the other side of these comments internalize them. Beaten up by the inhumanity of words, many even try to conform to some artificial standard of beauty propagated by a superficial mass. We perceived the article in question to tackle this issue. We thought that it put a mirror to the face of perpetrators of mean speech. We thought that these people would look searchingly into themselves and reconsider passing hateful judgment.<br />
<br />
<br />
In our attempt to allow this article to make a difference and address a major student issue, we failed to fully realize that the article could itself inflict the sort of harm it was intended to chastise. Narrowly, we thought that the obscenely grandiose writing style would clearly convey satire. As a result, we did not fully consider the harm that the article might do. Publishing the piece was without any doubt a mistake. Whereas at the time we thought that the article employed an effective rhetorical tool, we now see that it was inappropriate. If we could do it again, we would have tried to convey the message of the article in a different way. But we cannot. We must live with the consequences of our publication. Opinion articles do not represent the opinion of the newspaper and are labeled as such. That said, it is the responsibility of the editors to make sure that the speech promoted is not hateful. On this occasion, we failed. <br />
<br />
Many of our readers have criticized both the author and The News-Letter for being misogynistic. We hope that our explanation and apology will ease their deserved anger. Others will view this editorial as insufficient. For these people, what we have written here will not be enough. The News-Letter hopes, though, that it will demonstrate itself to be a paper committed to excellence and decency in the coming months. Before last week's edition, this paper was one of the best in the country. After last week's edition, we intend to stay that way.</blockquote>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-32514956278663899772010-09-22T14:52:00.003-04:002010-09-22T19:06:14.092-04:00Qureshi Resigns in Aftermath of Sgammato's Op-Ed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJqLvofV23I/AAAAAAAAABk/vli92Ej7mPc/s1600/4320bfea7438e-74-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJqLvofV23I/AAAAAAAAABk/vli92Ej7mPc/s320/4320bfea7438e-74-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Omar Qureshi, the News-Letter opinion page editor, has resigned amid the fallout from Greg Sgammato's opinion in the latest edition of the News-Letter, sources close to the paper tell Hopkins Underground.<br />
<br />
As the opinion page editor, Qureshi would have been responsible for overseeing the content of the opinion page. He defended Sgammato, his friend and roommate, in <a href="http://hopkinsunderground.blogspot.com/2010/09/debate-team-comes-to-defense-of-greg.html">an e-mail</a> to members of the debate team of which he is the treasurer and Sgammato the president.<br />
<br />
"What has been most hurtful for me, personally, is that my friends and those closest to me now think of me as a bad person," Qureshi wrote. "I will not attempt to claim that I am not." <br />
<br />
We do not know Sgammato's fate or that of the two top editors, Sarah Tan and Lily Newman. Tomorrow, the News-Letter will be print a new edition, undoubtedly with some explanation of the events of the past week.<br />
<br />
A source also says Qureshi was not the only pair of eyes to review Sgammato's piece. It had in fact been edited by other editors.<br />
<br />
You can send us a confidential tip by e-mailing us at jhuunderground@gmail.com.Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-14973818043831646002010-09-21T19:58:00.003-04:002010-09-24T17:36:16.375-04:00Does the HOP Know What 'Free' Means? (updated)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJlGX2_4KiI/AAAAAAAAABc/bqdkYRMZ3Oc/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-21+at+7.51.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJlGX2_4KiI/AAAAAAAAABc/bqdkYRMZ3Oc/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-21+at+7.51.37+PM.png" /></a></div>In today's announcement e-mail, The HOP, Hopkins Organization for Programming, advertised a raffle for a pair of Baltimore Ravens game tickets. The headline read, "Win a free pair of Ravens Tickets!" Sounds good, right? Read further and one will see that the winner will only get a pair of discounted tickets. Does somebody proof these things?<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE 9/24/2010 3:04 p.m.: </b> <br />
The HOP corrected it's mistake from Tuesday, telling students on Friday winners of the raffle got discounted tickets rather than free ones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJz3AqB8MiI/AAAAAAAAABs/phHe1FgfzHM/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-24+at+3.05.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJz3AqB8MiI/AAAAAAAAABs/phHe1FgfzHM/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-24+at+3.05.07+PM.png" /></a></div>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-9820286670394574262010-09-21T17:34:00.000-04:002010-09-21T17:40:32.682-04:00Unanswered Questions About Sgammato's Op-EdThe fall out from Greg Sgammato's opinion piece in Thursday's News-Letter continues. National blogs have picked up on the story, many criticizing the article's content. The campus is still talking about it. But there are still some issues left to be addressed.<br />
<ul><li>What sort of backlash is Sgammato facing at the News-Letter? Will he resign from his position as managing editor? </li>
<li>How responsible were Lily Newman and Sarah Tan for this article? Did they proof the page and article at all before it went to print? </li>
<li>Did Omar Qureshi's close friendship with Sgammato influence his judgment in allowing the article to run? He is Sgammato's roommate (according to sources) and the treasurer of the debate team of which Sgammato is president. </li>
<li>What will the University do? Bill Smedick, the faculty adviser, and Susan Boswell, Dean of Student Life, have been unusually silent on this issue.</li>
<li>Will the News-Letter print the "apology" they posted online in the coming edition of the paper? Or will they write another "apology" with another explanation?</li>
</ul>What questions do you think the News-Letter needs to address?Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-88474581982169936942010-09-20T09:36:00.000-04:002010-09-21T15:01:33.962-04:00Debate Team comes to Greg Sgammato's DefenseHopkins Underground has obtained an e-mail to members of the Hopkins Debate Team about Greg Sgammato's opinion piece on overweight women. Omar Qureshi, the team's treasurer and the opinion page editor for the News-Letter, sent the <strike>long-winded</strike> message to debate team members Sunday night. We have posted the entire e-mail after the jump. <br />
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You can send us a confidential tip by e-mailing us at <a href="mailto:jhuunderground@gmail.com">jhuunderground@gmail.com</a>.<br />
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<b>UPDATE 9/21/2010 3:00 p.m.: </b>Sources tell us that Qureshi is not only part of the debate team leadership with Sgammato, but also Sgammato's roommate. Sgammato is the president of the debate team.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>From: Omar Qureshi <br />
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:36:16<br />
To: [redacted]<br />
Subject: [Debate] Concerning the News-Letter<br />
<br />
Dear Team,<br />
I am emailing concerning a recent News-Letter article that was published in the opinions section, to which I am the editor. The content of the article was extremely unfortunate, and its intention as a satire piece failed completely. I, alongside all of the editors of The News-Letter, should have demonstrated better judgment. To make matters worse, our very own Greg Sgammato wrote the article. Unfortunately, this has led many of our team members to feel insecure or unsure about the nature of equality and acceptance on our team.<br />
<br />
Greg’s article was intended for humor, not as a statement of his true feelings. The article was a poorly conceived satire. What has been most hurtful for me, personally, is that my friends and those closest to me now think of me as a bad person. I will not attempt to claim that I am not. I just want to say that everyone on the debate team is held in the highest regard. And if anyone feels unsure about whether or not they want to be a part of this team on the basis of the article in question, I urge them to reconsider. The team is and always will be a group of progressively minded intellectuals committed to excellence in speech and debate.<br />
<br />
I have spent the bulk of the day along with all the editors of the newspaper apologizing for allowing this article to be published. I will only be able to sway a few. But, to the people who matter most to me and the rest of the board, I am committed to demonstrating to you that you should feel comfortable on the debate team. An article in The News-Letter is not reflective of the culture of debate. I would like to spend some one on one time with all of you if possible.<br />
<br />
I encourage you to email me your concerns anonymously or transparently. I am more than willing to speak with any of you on the phone about this issue at any time. In the interest of open dialogue, I will be on [redacted] from 5-7 and 9 to 10 tomorrow. Please come talk to me about any of your concerns. I consider this team to be a family. We will certainly go through good times and bad times. I only hope we can recover from this bad time stronger than ever.<br />
<br />
Best,<br />
Omar QureshiHopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-12439271840812401372010-09-20T09:27:00.000-04:002010-09-20T10:36:16.888-04:00Greg Sgammato's Controversial Op-Ed in Full<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJdgaYoOkHI/AAAAAAAAABM/y7kQS4tuxRc/s1600/41191_1366185309715_1084110284_30746669_7294280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div> We noticed that The News-Letter took down Greg Sgammato's controversial opinion in which he derides overweight women. A flurry of controversy erupted this weekend as students on campus and a national blog drummed up their criticism of Sgammato and his work.<br />
<br />
Luckily, we were able to save a copy on our computers before the editorial board, undoubtedly in serious crisis management meetings, decided to remove the post from the internet. But fear not, readers. We have posted the full text of Sgammato's chauvinistic work after the jump.<br />
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We will get into the journalistic ethics of The News-Letter removing a piece from their website later. There are many problems.<br />
<br />
<b>UPDATE 10:32 a.m.:</b> Hopkins Underground has learned that the News-Letter featured Sgammato's piece in its e-mail to readers Friday. A reader sent us a screenshot of the e-mail. Featured articles typically highlight good writing or reporting. Seems like this year's editorial board cannot judge good writing at all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJdw4u13NhI/AAAAAAAAABU/1S__-ID7hso/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-19+at+10.46.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJdw4u13NhI/AAAAAAAAABU/1S__-ID7hso/s400/Screen+shot+2010-09-19+at+10.46.16+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Local bison bear all at Phi Kappa Psi's annual Lingerave<br />
<br />
By: Greg Sgammato<br />
<br />
Posted: 9/16/10<br />
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Last Thursday, September 9th, Phi Kappa Psi hosted their annual Lingerave party, a celebration of scantily clad women and booming techno music. The event was by many accounts a success, but unfortunately featured a disproportionate amount of fat chicks.<br />
<br />
Under normal circumstances, fat chicks at a Hopkins party are neither a novelty nor a major problem. The student body has become accustomed to seeing the occasional bison at Pike; as long as direct interaction isn't necessitated, most Blue Jays are content with simply letting the livestock graze.<br />
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Such a dynamic, though, is fundamentally shifted when certain parameters change. In the case of the Lingerave, clothing - the last defense against the hordes of 'grenades' that inhabit this University - was explicitly discouraged. And herein lies the source of the problem.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the brothers of Phi Psi actually thought that most girls at their party would be attractive. To be fair, there certainly were plenty of good-looking ladies in attendance. The problem, though, was that these girls were, by and large, the ones who remained clothed.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately for the rest of the party, those who were most adamant about letting it all hang loose had a few too many to let hang loose. This may seem counterintuitive; why would the biggest chicks wear the least clothing? These are girls who wear sweatshirts on sweltering summer days just to hide their - admittedly substantial - arms. The answer, of course, can be found in the staple of any decent frat party: alcohol.<br />
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Alcohol boosts self-confidence; anyone who has shotgunned a few beers or dared to sip on some jungle juice can attest to this fact. Such a phenomenon, though, is exacerbated when we throw fat chicks into the mix. When buffalo - especially those who frequent frat parties - consume alcohol, they undergo an extreme and sudden inflation of self-image.<br />
<br />
In a matter of minutes, the girl whose leggings expose a glimpse into the darker side of humanity will equate herself to Megan Fox. She - though 'it' may be more appropriate - will flaunt it like she's got it, when in fact she never had it and probably never will. She will transcend 'sloppy' and become a force to be reckoned with, an 8-on-the-Richter-Scale Neuroscience major with no test on Monday, a full fridge and an empty bed.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, a drunk plus-size is scary enough. Yet put her in an environment in which clothing is actively discouraged and we have added insult to an already egregious injury. The end result? Fat chicks running around the Phi Psi house wearing nothing but a bra and an unfortunate pair of shorts.<br />
<br />
Such was the inevitable downside of the Lingerave. What's most disturbing about the situation - apart from the sweat - was that it could not have been prevented. <br />
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But, you say, certainly it could have been avoided. Not the case.<br />
<br />
In analyzing this problem, we must enter the mentality of the fat chick. She knows that, given her current situation, she will not gain admission to a frat party of her own accord. No one in his right mind would, given the chance, admit a herd of rhinos to his party. So - and here is where the hippo is at her most wily - the fat chick will systematically befriend hot chicks.<br />
<br />
Such a relationship is symbiotic and, as such, makes intuitive sense. Hot girls associate with fat chicks as a means to boost their level of relative sex appeal. Fat chicks hang out with more aesthetically pleasing girls to leech off the perks that come naturally with their biological success. If, in the near future, one determines a means by which we can separate hot chicks from the heavy, heavy burden of their larger peers, a Nobel will surely follow.<br />
<br />
In any case, fat chicks and hot chicks often go hand-in-hand. When they travel together to a frat party, those brothers working the door are forced to let the elephants inside; to refuse them would be incurring the wrath of their hot friends. And once inside, the damage has already been done. It's only a matter of time until the mammoths monopolize the space on the dance floor.<br />
<br />
In the future, one can think of at least one alteration to make; indeed, perhaps advertising a party as a "Lingerave" will bring about more bad than good. While seeing a hot chick in only her underwear is undoubtedly a treat, seeing a blimp without the welcome shield of clothing is a much worse fate for everyone at the party. A seasoned veteran should have the confidence to wait until the bedroom to see his girl without clothing; don't subject the majority to the tyranny of the - funnily enough - enormous minority.<br />
<br />
There is, of course, one more option: get obliterated. You'll be surprised how far you'll go with a half-naked wildebeest.</span>Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-71051035368693373962010-09-17T21:07:00.000-04:002010-09-19T10:58:58.952-04:00Greg Sgammato and Overweight Women, an Analysis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Often times The News-Letter's <strike>page of ramblings</strike> opinion page can be inane. This week we noticed a particularly alarming opinion piece written by one of the News-Letter's managing editors, Greg Sgammato. We wonder: What does Greg Sgammato have against overweight people? </div><br />
In his pieced titled "Local bison bear all at Phi Kappa Psi's annual Lingerave," Sgammato tries to understand why overweight women party and wear clothing that exposes their flesh. He identifies the problem (fat people), the cause (alcohol) and a solution (get drunk and try to hook up with them). Sgammato describes overweight women as animals. At various points in his opinion piece, he calls them fat chicks, buffalo, bison, blimp, grenades, hippos, wildebeest and livestock. At one point he does not even want to refer to them as humans let alone animals. He simply calls them, "it." <br />
<br />
Sources tell us Sgammato is quite the gym rat and has a physical physique that would, if he were not so short, make some of the women at Hopkins Underground swoon. Is his dislike for overweight women a result of his all brawn and no brain view of life?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJQdJlROPnI/AAAAAAAAAA0/rrkH6txXysA/s1600/41191_1366185309715_1084110284_30746669_7294280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Sgammato's world is one in which the overweight are out of sight and out of mind. They must do their best to avoid the line of vision of normal-weight people. Ideally, overweight people do not go to the parties he attends. "If, in the near future, one determines a means by which we can separate hot chicks from the heavy, heavy burden of their larger peers, a Nobel will surely follow." He believes that the student body is only willing tolerate fat people so long as "direct interaction isn't necessitated."<br />
<br />
Here are some choice quotes with some analysis.<br />
<br />
Greg Sgammato starts off by conceding that the fat will always be among us. (Sort of like the poor.) He laments that when he was at the Lingerave party he only saw overweight women in their underwear and not the hot chicks. <br />
<blockquote>"Under normal circumstances, fat chicks at a Hopkins party are neither a novelty nor a major problem. The student body has become accustomed to seeing the occasional bison at Pike; as long as direct interaction isn't necessitated, most Blue Jays are content with simply letting the livestock graze."</blockquote>Insightful writer that he is, Sgammato asks his readers hypothetically,<br />
<blockquote>"Why would the biggest chicks wear the least clothing? These are the girls who wear sweatshirts on sweltering summer days just to hide their -- admittedly substantial -- arms. The answer, of course, can be found in the staple of any decent frat party: alcohol...When buffalo -- especially those who frequent frat parties -- consume alcohol, they undergo an extreme and sudden inflation of self-image."</blockquote> When this happens, poor Sgammato must watch women with less than ideal figures will<br />
<blockquote>"Flaunt it like she's got it, when in fact she never had it and probably never will. She will transcend 'sloppy' and become a force to be reckoned with, an 8-on-the-Richter-Scale Neuroscience major with no test on Monday, a full fridge and an empty bed. </blockquote><blockquote>Needless to say, a drunk plus-size is scary enough. Yet put her in an enviornment in which clothing is actively discouraged and we have added insult to an already egregious injury."</blockquote>Sgammato gives in. He says that we cannot avoid fat people. He then tries to play psychologist even though he is an international studies and economics major. <br />
<blockquote>"We must enter the mentality of the fat chick. She knows that, given her current situation, she will not gain admission to a frat party of her own accord. No one in his right mind would, given the chance, admit a herd of rhinos to his party...And once inside, the damage has already been done. It's only a matter of time until the mammoths monopolize space on the dance floor."</blockquote>But alas, Sgammato concludes that if you can't beat them, join them. After all, according to him, if one wants a sure bet, there's nothing like a girl with low self-esteem to satisfy your needs. <br />
<blockquote>"A seasoned veteran should have the confidence to wait until the bedroom to see his girl without clothing; don't subject the majority to the tyranny of the -- funnily enough -- enormous minority.<br />
<br />
There is, of course, one more option: get obliterated. You'll be surprised how far you'll go with a half-naked wildebeest."</blockquote>We are amazed that the editors-in-chief of The News-Letter, Lily Newman and Sarah Tan, and the opinion page editor, Omar Qureshi, would publish such an opinion piece that can personally offend not only a section of the student body but also larger segments of the country. This is not a piece that is in favor or against a certain policy. This is a chauvinistic piece that should offend everyone's sensibilities. For all those going out this weekend, beware.<br />
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</style> Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-1035069648191459732010-09-16T19:49:00.000-04:002010-09-16T19:58:09.237-04:00Shooting at the Hospital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJKsJrukZxI/AAAAAAAAAAc/6eE70tQkqRg/s1600/162913043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TJKsJrukZxI/AAAAAAAAAAc/6eE70tQkqRg/s400/162913043.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A sniper at the scene on Thursday. <a href="http://twitter.com/justin_fenton/status/24676788093">(@justin_fenton)</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Around 11:10 a.m. a son of a patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital shot Dr. David B. Cohen in the abdomen. Soon after, the Hospital was under lock-down and all people affiliated with the Hospital and the Medical institution were notified. Praise should be given to the Hospital for its swift action to keep its students, faculty, and staff safe. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>However, two hours passed before undergraduates and people on the Homewood campus were notified. In an e-mail timestamped at 1:10 p.m., Dennis O'Shea, Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs, informed the Homewood campus of the shooting. He described it as a "police situation," telling students to avoid going to the medical campus and to check with instructors about attendance. Two internet links were given for students to receive updates. Seventeen minutes later, O'Shea sent a follow-up email correcting one of those links. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It seems odd that the University would let the people on the Homewood Campus aware of the situation almost two hours after the incident and after the people at the Hospital were notified. Many students work at the Hospital, taking courses or working on research. In our opinion, two hours seems too long of a delay to notify Homewood. Students who may not be on the Hospital's emergency text message or e-mail list may have unknowingly gone down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>What are your thoughts? Do you think the University let everyone know in a timely manner about the situation? Does it matter when Homewood was notified?Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2331881446389518853.post-86705709805936870482010-09-10T20:58:00.000-04:002010-09-10T21:07:46.913-04:00Welcome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TIrWHVCIVpI/AAAAAAAAAAU/XzR_tDy4fIs/s1600/GilmanTunnel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_j7NbN2lUMeg/TIrWHVCIVpI/AAAAAAAAAAU/XzR_tDy4fIs/s320/GilmanTunnel.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Gilman Tunnel </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Welcome to <a href="http://hopkinsunderground.blogspot.com/">Hopkins Underground</a>, a blog dedicated to covering The Johns Hopkins University. We will not rehash stories that have been published in the <a href="http://www.jhunewsletter.com/">News-Letter</a> or the <a href="http://gazette.jhu.edu/">Gazette</a> unless the two newspapers omitted important details. Instead, we will turn a critical eye on the faculty, students, staff and organizations that make up the university.<br />
<br />
Blog posts will be anonymous for at least two reasons. One, the critical nature of our posts leaves us vulnerable for reprisal. Two, we want sources to be able to share information and tips with confidence. All e-mail and communication with Hopkins Underground will be strictly confidential. Our hope is that students and faculty will feel comfortable enough to bring up any grievances or concerns about the University.<br />
<br />
We will not write spiteful or gossipy posts. We aim to offer substantive praise and criticism about one of the nation's most respected universities.<br />
<br />
If you would like to contact Hopkins Underground, you can e-mail <a href="mailto:jhuunderground@gmail.com">jhuunderground@gmail.com</a> or follow us on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jhuunderground">@JHUunderground</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's to a good year...Hopkins Undergroundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03063199416304037265noreply@blogger.com0